Email

The vessel exported to Pakistan is said to be based on Type 054A, pictured above. — Photo courtesy China Daily

China has started building an advanced warship that would be exported to Pakistan under a defence agreement between the neighbouring countries, China Daily reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper, that quoted China State Shipbuilding Corp — one of the largest state-owned defence contractor — said that the construction of the ship had started in the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai and is a version of China's most advanced warship.

Though the Chinese corporation did not specify the type, China Daily quoted Pakistan Navy as saying that the ship's class is Type 054AP, that is based on China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 054A frigate. Pakistan has ordered four such ships, the newspaper said, quoting a statement by the Pakistan Navy.

In June last year, Pakistan Navy had announced that it was purchasing two multirole Type 054A frigates from China for bolstering its war-fighting capability. The navy had said that Pakistan’s fleet of Type054A warships would grow to four by 2021.

The PLA Navy has about 30 of the Type 054A ships, each of which has a loaded displacement of 4,000 metric tonnes and is equipped with advanced radars and missiles.

According to a researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, Cao Weidong, it appeared that the equipment installed on the ships will be Chinese, which shows China's "progress in the industry and the Pakistani Navy's confidence in our technology and capability". Previously, Pakistan would always ask its Chinese contractors to install Western radars and weaponry as it believed that West's technology was superior to China's, Weidong said.

"I believe the reason they chose our type is that ours is one of the few that can carry out all of the air-defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine tasks," he said, adding that he believed that the ships will improve Pakistan's naval defence.

The warship will be China's largest and most powerful vessel export, China Daily quoted an insider in China's shipbuilding sector as saying.

"The service of Type 054APs will double the combat power of the Pakistani Navy's surface fleet," the source told the newspaper.

Let me guess. The warships will be given to Pakistan via payment of a high interest loan like the CPEC projects.

Recommend0

Java

Jan 02, 2019 02:33pm

Please we need more money to be spent on betterment our people not on purchase of killing machines.

Recommend0

Azad

Jan 02, 2019 02:42pm

China will not build hospitals, schools, colleges but will build war strategic materials for Pakistan.

Recommend0

Bajaj

Jan 02, 2019 02:43pm

Be ready to pay incoming dollars of loan to China.

Recommend0

fairplay

Jan 02, 2019 02:44pm

modern weapons for a world class armed forces. good.

Recommend0

Angry Pitbull

Jan 02, 2019 02:44pm

There is no free lunch in this competitive world

Recommend0

Zahid

Jan 02, 2019 02:48pm

A friend in need is a friend indeed

Recommend0

Mr.T

Jan 02, 2019 02:52pm

why you need this war ship, so much money to invested just for what ? you already have nuclear capability, why you need anything else ?

Recommend0

Pak-UK

Jan 02, 2019 02:52pm

Much needed for costal lines of Gawadar for CPEC.

Recommend0

Imtiaz Ali Khan

Jan 02, 2019 02:58pm

After Fighter planes, Tanks, Ordinance and now Ships. Good going China Pakistan.

Pakistan and China love you both.

SinoPak Iron Brothers 4 Life!

Recommend0

nit

Jan 02, 2019 03:02pm

meanwhile PM is going around asking money for dam building.

Recommend0

Rohit

Jan 02, 2019 03:09pm

Why does all the deals signed by Pakistan looks shady? They just give a gist but never give out any details like cost or what is included in the deal. CPEC is a great example. It's like hanging a beautiful painting on the wall but not letting anyone see it as it will expose something nefarious hidden in it.

Recommend0

Li-N-Ja

Jan 02, 2019 03:17pm

Acquisition is good but when the country is facing acute BoP crisis, from where we are going to pay the amount? We must pressure them for (i) long repayment period (ii) manufacture the same here with technology transfer and (iii) receive payment if our currency instead of USD. If are able to manufacture the same here, it will help ancillary industries to get business and more employment generation.

Good step by china..we have to make our defence
Strong as much as possible..because our enemies
Are bigger then we can imagine..

Recommend0

Maboob Saleem

Jan 02, 2019 03:24pm

Better than any ship Iran has.

Recommend0

Ravi

Jan 02, 2019 03:25pm

Very good ploy. These ships will be manned and operated by Chinese from Gwadar port in the name of Pakistan. They will also charge Pakistan for it's operation.

Recommend0

Mohsin

Jan 02, 2019 03:28pm

War is not the answer

Recommend0

Swiss Neutral

Jan 02, 2019 03:29pm

It is a nice idea to spend money on defence when economy is going south !!!!!

Recommend0

Azad

Jan 02, 2019 03:33pm

How will be pay them. Do we really need it at this time.

Recommend0

Rameez Ahmed

Jan 02, 2019 03:34pm

I Presume PMIK will travel in those ships to brotherly countries asking for immdaad to run the country.

Recommend0

Look

Jan 02, 2019 03:38pm

Good Chinese goods last a life time,but only if the work

Recommend0

Popcorn time

Jan 02, 2019 03:41pm

Very important import.imf not needed.

Recommend0

SATT

Jan 02, 2019 03:46pm

CPEC money going back to China.

Recommend0

Shah

Jan 02, 2019 03:49pm

Great news but Pakistan must develop her own defense industry. Also, Pakistan must deploy nuclear submarines which is the real name of the game.

Recommend0

tholan

Jan 02, 2019 03:51pm

fitted with sensors or softwares that would automatically send operational datas to china , once the ship is in pakistan waters.

Recommend0

Ash Man

Jan 02, 2019 03:57pm

Good. But what about the price of the deal. No money for education. No money for healthcare and no money for dams. But there is always money for defence.

Recommend0

Last Word

Jan 02, 2019 04:09pm

Is Pakistan in imminent danger to buy these costly warships when country is facing such severe financial hardship ?

Recommend0

A shah

Jan 02, 2019 04:09pm

How will Pakistan pay?

Recommend0

Babu

Jan 02, 2019 04:14pm

What is the cost and payment modalities ?.

Recommend0

Akbar786

Jan 02, 2019 04:15pm

Oh boy . USA will not be happy. More reason to stay in Afghanistan.

Recommend0

Pervez

Jan 02, 2019 04:26pm

Do we have inspectors monitoring the construction of the warship?

Recommend0

Kamran

Jan 02, 2019 04:34pm

@Rohit, because their is nothing nefarius

Recommend0

Murli

Jan 02, 2019 05:03pm

Good going. I thought IK was focusing on economic development- looks another U turn. Wish you could eat these ships.

Recommend0

Rehman

Jan 02, 2019 05:20pm

To those detractors who are always looking to belittle Pakistan know this that a modern fighting force is the basis of Pakistan’s security, every thing else is secondary.

Recommend0

Zaak

Jan 02, 2019 05:40pm

Bad decision to buy. Not at all needed for now
Instead the chinese should have invested in other
sectors
This will cause Pakistan dear

Recommend0

Alex

Jan 02, 2019 05:59pm

@Rohit, Please don't we let know soon

Recommend0

Karachitee

Jan 02, 2019 06:00pm

@Babu, it's free happy now.

Recommend0

Hasan

Jan 02, 2019 06:26pm

For all concerned indians, Pakistan's defense budged is close to $10 billion and there is money allocated in it for such purchases.

Recommend0

RationalBabu

Jan 02, 2019 06:56pm

@Zahid, is there really a need?

Recommend0

Asif Kashmiri

Jan 02, 2019 07:18pm

Excellent - well done to both!

Recommend0

Marcus

Jan 02, 2019 08:48pm

Invest the money in health sector

Recommend0

A shah

Jan 02, 2019 08:57pm

Why doesn’t China invest in hospitals? Schools? Why always fighter planes and now navy ships which in-debt us for generation.

Recommend0

Hameed

Jan 02, 2019 09:00pm

@Java, If the money available, politicians and beaurocrats would steal the funds.

Recommend0

Hameed

Jan 02, 2019 09:01pm

@Azad, Defence come first, then bread and butter.

Recommend0

Hameed

Jan 02, 2019 09:08pm

@Azad, yes and more.

Recommend0

shake chilli

Jan 02, 2019 09:16pm

Who said Pakistan had an economic emergency. Eat a our words, we are a proudly rich nation.

Recommend0

420

Jan 02, 2019 09:34pm

@Zak, unemployment,poverty, construction of toilets etc are more important than this purchases.

Recommend0

Rajput

Jan 02, 2019 09:36pm

Nice! These ships will be operated by Chinese Navy. Probably one of the condition for CPEC and loans. Is there anything else left to be sold to Chinese by Pakistan?

Recommend0

Right Voice

Jan 02, 2019 09:51pm

Don't buy Chinese junk and waste precious money on it.

Recommend0

Rajesh

Jan 02, 2019 09:52pm

@Pak-UK,
Definitely needed on the anticipated busy Gwadar. BTW what transportation are you expecting to come through CPEC/Gwadar? Are there any specific contracts to use CPEC or it is; build it and we will use it if viable.

Recommend0

N_Saq

Jan 02, 2019 10:01pm

The Pakistan Navy must have a budget and if this fits in its budget then why not?

Recommend0

Kaka

Jan 02, 2019 11:01pm

Every time Pakistan buys anything from China on credit, it tightens the grip of China on Pakistan, more so.

Recommend0

ijaz

Jan 02, 2019 11:03pm

Yes but what are the commercial terms?

Recommend0

Barat

Jan 02, 2019 11:56pm

More debt?
In Chimese Yuan

Recommend0

Veer Singh

Jan 03, 2019 12:47am

Will the cost be added to the CPEC bill along with 12% interest?

Recommend0

JustWasif

Jan 03, 2019 01:52am

China is selling EVERYTHING to Pakistan...

Recommend0

brmurr

Jan 03, 2019 02:39am

@Maboob Saleem, That’s not saying much.

Recommend0

brmurr

Jan 03, 2019 02:47am

@Ash Man ,

Defense? Before long there’ll be little to defend, except your dysfunctional way of life.

Recommend0

brmurr

Jan 03, 2019 02:51am

@Zaak,

I wonder how many schools or hospitals could be built for the cost of one ship.

Recommend0

Abid

Jan 03, 2019 04:39am

Navy needs to be strengthened further.. Good development.

Recommend0

Zak

Jan 03, 2019 05:01am

@Rohit, do you know any details of Rafaele French shady deal with Modi and ambani.

Recommend0

sanity

Jan 03, 2019 05:25am

Pakistan MUST ask the Chinese authorities to build the ship IN PAKISTAN so our engineers and technicians etc. can learn the valuables from their Chinese counterparts and be able to build such ships and even more at home!

Recommend0

sanity

Jan 03, 2019 05:27am

It ought to be the part of the deal that such ships will be built in Pakistan so our engineers can gain valuable experience from their counterparts!

Recommend0

ankit

Jan 03, 2019 07:51am

Great, that is China, "giveth by one hand, taketh with interest by another"

Recommend0

Bajake Thokde

Jan 03, 2019 08:56am

Its being Exported, means Chinese are selling it. But Pakistan is going around for aid, so where is the money for such expenses?

Recommend0

sachin

Jan 03, 2019 09:24am

@Zak, With borrowed money or free aid.

Recommend0

point of view

Jan 03, 2019 09:49am

Large populations of Pakistani living in less than 2 USD income per day. Yet, Pakistan have enough money for purchasing weapons than to improve living standards of people. Great going...

Recommend0

shazad khan

Jan 03, 2019 10:19am

Pakisatan has any money to buy this expensive war ship??

Recommend0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 03, 2019 03:52pm

Why can't the warship be made at home under "technology transfer" agreement with China and the Chinese firm?

Recommend0

Kamath

Jan 03, 2019 10:04pm

@Qureshi, China has been a all weather friend of Pakistan for decades and has been a very solid supporter . It has invested in Pakistan. So it is good so far. In all probability these warships are given free to Pakistan as China believes a powerful friend in the warm Indian Ocean waters is vital to the security of both nations. Perhaps in return, China may ask Pakistan to give Chinese naval ships landing facility in Karachi and Gwaddar ports. That is reasonable.

Recommend0

Hari

Jan 04, 2019 05:50am

If they really care build with joint participation in Pakistan with technology transfer.

Recommend0

Hari

Jan 04, 2019 05:55am

Does China Having order copy from Pakistan ? Or China just Decided to export ?

Even a small work in a company undergoes Many processes.

Which country participated in the bid or did you approached other countries ??

Just China dictating terms to you, atleast try to get nice colour painting of your choice.